Overview

Petrolatum (peh-tro-LAY-tum) is a mixture, not a compound. Mixtures differ from compounds in a number of important ways. The parts making up a mixture are not chemically combined with each other, as they are in a compound. Also, mixtures have no definite composition, but consist of varying amounts of the substances from which they are formed.

Petrolatum is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons derived from the distillation of petroleum. Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen. The hydrocarbons that make up petrolatum belong to the methane (saturated or alkane) family of hydrocarbons with the general formula C_nH_2N+2. Some members of the family include methane (CH₄), ethane (C₂H₅), propane (C₃H₈), and butane (C₄H₁₀).

Key Facts

Other Names:

Petroleum jelly; paraffin jelly; vasoliment; liquid paraffin; mineral oil; paraffin oil

Formula:

Not applicable

Elements:

Carbon, hydrogen

Compound Type:

Not applicable

State:

Semi-solid...